رابطه نفس و بدن از نظر ملاصدرا

Mulla Sadraʹs View of the Soul-Body Relation

Philosophers divide the relation between the soul and the body into two general types: the relation between the bird and the cage and the relation between matter and form. Mulla Sadra views the soul as a form for the body; however, unlike those who consider the soul to be spiritually subsistent and originated, he maintains that the soul is created with the body and becomes spiritually subsistent. Accordingly, he maintains that the soul is related to and in need of the body at the beginning of its creation. He also believes that at the beginning of its association with the body, the soul depends on it in doing certain acts such as seeing, hearing, etc. However, after leaving this stage behind, it moves towards perfection due to its trans-substantial motion, so that it becomes independent of the body for its subsistence. Moreover, it becomes independent in taking care of its affairs, so that all the sense, imaginal, and rational perceptions of the soul will be possible without the assistance of the body. He defines the body and the soul as two independent ipseities; however, he introduces them, in fact, as a single ipseity. As a result, he attributes the individuation of every body to his soul. Mulla Sadra holds that, from the beginning of its origination, the soul is continually in a state of change and evolution. This process continues until it achieves stability and attains perfection. What causes its perfection and internal growth is the expansion of its knowledge, which promotes its ontological level and increases its nobility. Since the soul of any body is made by that body, metempsychosis is impossible.